27 August

SAINT MONICA

Mother of our Father Saint Augustine

FEAST

 

 

Entrance Antiphon                 Pr 31:30,28-29

The woman who fears the Lord is honored. Her sons extol her virtues;

her husband is loud in her praise.

 

Opening Prayer

Lord God of mercy, you gave Saint Monica

the joy of seeing her son freed from the darkness of error,

to become a Christian and your servant.

With the help of her prayers,

may our religious family increase in numbers and virtue.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

First Reading                Pr l:8—9;4:3-4;6:20—22

A reading from the Book of Proverbs.

 

Listen, my child, to your father’s instruction, do not reject your mother’s teaching: they will be a crown of grace for your head, a circlet for your neck. I too was once a child with a father, in my mother’s eyes, a tender child, unique. This is what he used to teach me, “Let your heart treasure what I have to say, keep my principles and you will live. Keep your father’s precept, my child, do not spurn your mother’s teaching. Bind them ever to your heart, tie them round your neck. While you are active, they will guide you, when you fall asleep they will watch over you, when you wake up, they will converse with you”.

 

The word of the Lord.

 

Responsorial Psalm                Ps 127:1—2,3,4—5

 

R/. Your children are like shoots of the olive around your table.

 

O blessed are those who fear the Lord

and walk in his ways.

By the labor of your hands you shall eat.

You will be happy and prosper. R/.

 

Your wife like a fruitful vine

in the heart of your house;

your children like shoots of the olive,

around your table. R/.

 

Indeed thus shall be blessed

the man who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion

all the days of your life. R/.

 

Gospel Acclamation               Ps 44:8

Alleluia, Alleluia

 

Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness above your companions.

 

Alleluia.

 

Gospel                 Lk 7:11—17

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

 

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. Now when he was near the gate of the town there was a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople was with her. When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her and said, “Do not cry”. Then he went up and touched the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and glorified God saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us; God has visited his people.” And this view of him spread throughout Judaea and all the surrounding countryside.

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,

we offer you these gifts

in memory of our mother Saint Monica.

We humbly pray that they may bring us your forgiveness and salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

 

Preface

of Holy Men and Women II

 

Communion Antiphon            Mt 13:45-46

The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. Having found one of great value, he sold everything he had and bought it.

 

Prayer after Communion

All-powerful God,

may the power of this divine sacrament we receive,

on the feast of our mother Monica,

enlighten and enkindle our hearts.

May we burn with desire for holiness

and be rich in good works.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.